Surf board



Oct. 22, 1935. w T. SURREY SURF BOARD Filed Feb. 5, 1935 W T Uurfey Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are intended to support one or more persons when towed behind a swiftly moving craft such as a motor-boat or the like and which are commonly known as surf boar preferably term the present invention as a sea scooter as a convenient appellation to distinguish its character.

Ordinarily such surf boards have been constructed of wood with, in some forms, having their front ends upwardly curved somewhat thus resembling a toboggan. Devices thus constructed are generally lacking in sufficient buoyancy to support the weight of the user unless the device is pulled rapidly through, or rather over the surface of the water.

These wooden devices are subject to, not only flotation defects but are, because of their rigidity, productive of unpleasant shocks to the legs of the riders.

Furthermore, in the construction of such devices of wood or the like they cannot be readily collapsed to occupy small space for transportation.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which will have, when in use, ample fiotative power to support the user or users even when quiescent.

A second important object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of a device of this character having such inherent flexibility as to prevent undesirable shocks to the rider or riders as the device is towed over the ripples and waves commonly present where such devices are used.

A third important object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of device of this character which may be collapsed or inflated as desired, the device when collapsed occupying a relatively small space while, when inflated, is highly superior to the usual wooden surf board.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be understood from what follows, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device inflated and ready for use,

Figure 2 is a sectionon the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure although I Figure 3 is a section on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rear end of the device in its opened condition, and

Figure 5 is a section on the plane of the line 5 5-5 of Figure 1.

-In the form of the invention shown in the present drawing there is provided an outer casing including a spaced pair of fabric side members ill of straight formation along the greater 10 portion of their length, their forward ends being upturned as at H and having rounded forward edges I2.

These strips ID are provided with out-turned flanges l3 at their upper, lower and forward edges 15 and a wrapper sheet [4 extends from the upper rear end of the sides In forwardly over and around the upturned portions to extend rearwardly in contact with the lower flanges l3 back to the rear ends of the side strips ID. This wrapper 20 sheet is secured to the flanges l3 by stitching I5 (see especially Figure 4). The wrapper sheet I4 has rearwardly extending flaps IB' of such extent as to close the rear end of the casing formed by the sides l0 and wrapper l4 and these 25 extensions I6 are provided with eyelet holes I'l through which a lacing l8 passes to effect proximation of the flaps l6 so as to properly close the rear of the casing. Now, from what is shown in the drawing and has been described 30 in the specifications, it will be seen that there has been provided a shallow and box-like construction having an upturned forward end and access means at its rear end which may, at will, be closed. 36

Extending longitudinally through the hollow casing thus formed are parallel tubes I9 of rubber or other expansible material so proportioned that when fully expanded they will fill, as shown at I9, practically all the space Within the casing. 40 However, in order to afford lateral rigidity to the device and to prevent the tubes from being displaced from their proper positions there is provided a series of transverse brace members 20 stitched to the top and bottom parts of the 45 wrapper sheet so as to hold the said top and bottom portions of the wrapper sheet in evenly spaced relation. These transverse braces are secured to the top and bottom portions of the wrapper sheet by stitching 2! extending through said wrapper sheet and flanges 22 on said members 20. These members 20 are perforated to permit the passage of the tubes l 9, the tubes being expanded between the members 20 as at l9. Each tube has at its rear end a filling valve 23 wherethrough it may be inflated.

Spaced tabs 24 are provided on the upper and lower portions of the wrapper 14 at their rear edges which tabs are connected together by lacing 25. Extending from the rear end of each side member ID is a side flap 25, these flaps being of such length that one overlaps the other when they are closed over the rear end of the casing and each flap is provided with eyelet holes 26 to receive the filling stems or nipples 23. A

protecting flap 2'! is secured beneath one of the flaps 16 to one rear end of the wrapper sheet I4 and covers the outer ends of the nipples23.

The rear end of each tube i9 is reinforced-by a boot 28 of relatively rigid material.

In use the tubes 19 are inflated by supplying them with air from a suitable source as,'for instance, a tire pump or with air from a pressure tank. The valves 23 are then capped in the J=usualmanner,'the flaps 25 folded over, the tabs There has thus been provided a highly efllcient and improved device of the kind described and for the purpose specified. It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and detail construction of the invention as illustrated here- 5 in and particularly described. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to such specific form but it is desired to include all such devices as come within the scope of the appended claim. 10

What is claimed is: a a

A device of the kind describedincluding a casning having top, bottom, and side walls and an open end, inflatable members within the casing each having a filling nipple connected thereto, 15

side flaps connected to the side walls and adapted to'overlie the inflatable members, said flaps having openings to receive the nipples therethrough, tabs connected to opposite walls of the casing and adapted to overlie the side flaps, 20 means for connecting the tabs 'together a protesting flap secured'to the casing and-adapted to overlie the nipples, closure'flaps secured to the casingand adapted to overlie the protecting'flap,

and means for securing the closure flaps together. V

WILLIAM T. -C,URREY.- 

